Gas range



INVENTOR. '../x//Y E (YY1/wfg.:-

ATTORNEY.

J. E. yCHAMBERS GAS RANGE Filed Aug. 2', 1940 Gct. 24, 1944.

Patented Oct. 24, 1944 GAS RANGE John E. Chambers, Shelbyville, Ind. pplication August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,479

2 Claims.

My invention relates to gas ranges andhas for its principal object the provision in such a range of a warming shelf which can be used to warm dishes or cooking utensils. Another object of my invention is to produce a range in which the warming shelf, while readily acces-` sible, will not interfere with free use of the cooking top or oven. Still another object of my invention is to produce a range in which warm'. ing shelves of different sizes and kinds may be alternatively used.

In carrying out my invention, I provide the range with a back splasher extending upwardly from the cooking top in rear thereof; and near the top of such back splasher I provide a support for a Warnung shelf. Associated with the back splasher I provide a conduit which conveys hot gases from the oven of the range and discharges such gases against the bottom of the warming shelf. Preferably, I provide alternatively usable warming shelves, one in the form of an imperforate plate desirably provided with downwardly projecting heat-extending ribs or fins, which, when the shelf is in position will extend into the path of the flue gases discharged from the conduit associated with the back splasher, and the other substantially wider in its fore-and-.aft dimension and constructed in the form of an open grill through which the hot flue gases from the oven may pass.-

'Ihe accompanying drawing illustrates my invention: Fig. 1 is a fragmental vertical section through the rear portion of a gas range; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the gas range; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section; Fig. 4 is a fragmental rear elevation ofv an imperforate warming shelf; and Fig. 5 is a fragmental view similar to Fig. l

illustrating an alternatively usaba warming shelf in the form of an open grill.

The range illustrated in Fig. 1 has the conventional cooking top I0 and an oven Il located beneath such cooking top. The particular range illustrated also embodies a broiler compartment I2 and an insulated cooking compartment I3 opening upwardly into the cooking top I6.

Extending upwardly from the rear edge of the cooking top I0 is a back splasher 20; and the rear wall 2l ofthe range, which normally extends from the bottom of the range to a point adiacent the cooking top, continues upwardly in spaced relation to the back splasher to dei-lne a conduit 22 through which may flow hotgases from the oven Il, broiler compartment I2, and

depressed cooking compartment I3,

The upper edge of the .back splasher is lbent forwardly to form a flangev 26 upon which rests the lower horizontalfleg of a forwardly open sheet-metal channel 26, such channel projecting rearwardly from the back splasher over the open upper end of the conduit 22, where its lower leg is provided with openings 2l to permit escape of the flue gases flowing upwardly in such conduit.

In the plane of the channel 26 there are mounted at the top of the back splasher a pair of border frames 36, each conveniently formed of a strip of sheet metal lbent into a general U-shape with its open end facing rearwardly, or toward the back splasher. Each of the border frames is provided interiorly with a shoulder 3i co-planar with the upper horizontal leg of the channel 26.

The border frames 36 serve as supports for warming shelves. The warming shelf illustrated in Figs. l and 2 and at the left in Fig. 3 is conveniently formed of cast aluminum and comprises a flat body portion 35 adapted to be removably seated on the upper horizontal leg of the channel 26 and the flange 3l and provided in its lower surface with integral heat-absorbing ribs 36 which project downwardly into the path of the hot gases discharged from the flue 22 through the openings 2l.

The shelf 38 illustrated in Fig. 5 and at the right in Fig. 3 is made in the form of an open grill, conveniently of round wires. These wires comprise two, indicated at 39, which extend transversely of the shelf fore-and-aft of the stove, and the rear ends of which are bent into a U-shape, as indicated at 40, to be rather snugly received within the channel 26. The Ushaped extensions 40 are so disposed' vertically relative to the body of the members 39 that when the extensions are in place in the channel 26 the members 39 will rest upon the upper edges of the border frame 36 and hold the shelf 36 in a substantially horizontal position. A wire or other member 4l may be secured to the lower surfaces of the members 39 in a position to be received immediately within the front side of lthe border frame 30, as will be clear from Fig. 5, to prevent accidental forward movement of the shelf and consequent disengagement of the extensions 40 from the channel 26. When it is desired to remove the shelf 38, it is only necessary to lift its forward edge until the member 4l clears the upper edge of the border frame 36, whereupon the shelf may be moved forwardly until the extensions 40 are withdrawn from the channel 26.

It will be noted that in the range illustrated the warming shelves are supported well above the cooking top I0 near the rear thereof where, al-

though readily accessible, they do not interfere with free access of the cooking top. Moreover, owing to their position. the shelves will be warmed by the cookingtop burners, even though no hot gases are passing upwardly through the conduit 22. Deslrably, the range is supplied with one of the shelves, and one of the shelves 38, the interchangeability of these shelves making it possible for the user to locate them as desired.

The ribs 36 on the solid shelf 35, in addition to any heat-absorbing function they may perform, may also serve to collect and return to the flue 22 `any moisture which condenses on the lower surface of the shelf. For this purpose, the .rear ends of the ribs are located above the lower horizontal leg of the channel 26, and the bottoms of the ribs slope forwardly and upwardly to the front edge of the shelf. The side faces ofeach rib converge downwardly, and the sides of adjacent ribs loin each other in smooth curves, as

- shown in Fig. 4. As a result of this construction,

the lower side of the shelf ls free from horizontal surfaces of any material extent, and moisture condensing on the shelf will run downwardly and rearwardly along the ribs to their rear ends, Where it will drip on to the lower flange of the channel 26 and be returned to the flue for revaporization. The front edge of the lower ange of the channel may be bent upwardly slightly, as shown in Fig. 1, to prevent any moisture deposited on it from escaping otherwise than into the flue.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a gas range having a cooking top, an oven below said cooking top, and a back splasher extending upwardly from said cooking top at the rear thereof. a shelf near the top of said back splasher, a conduit receiving hot gases from said oven and extending upwardly in rear of said back splasher, said conduit discharging beneath said shelf, and said shelf being provided with downwardly extending heat-absorbing and condensate collecting fins which slope downwardly and rearwardly to a point adjacent said conduit,I whereby' moisture condensing on the lower surface of the shelf will run downwardly and rearwardly along the surfaces of the fins and be returned to said conduit.

2. In a gas range having a cooking top, an oven below said cooking top, and a back splasher extending upwardly from said cooking top at the rear thereof, a shelf near the top of said back splasher, and a conduit receiving hot gases from said oven and extending upwardly in rear of said back splasher, said conduit discharging beneath said shelf, condensate-collecting means on the lower surface of said shelf, and means for receiving and returning to said conduit any condensate dripping from said condensate-collecting means.

JOHN E. CHAMBERS. 

